Bernakd b



B. E. COMEY.

FOLDING TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 4.1915.

1 ,1 93,87. Patented Aug. 8, 1916. v

A TTORNE YS.

' @FFTQE.

" 'DE NARDE. collar, or SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND ESN ASSIGNMENTS, r YEMOC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, or SPRINGFIELD, Messiaen-centers, A CORPORATION or MASSACHUSETTS.

VFOLDING TA LE.

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BERNARD E. CoMEY, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in the city of Springfield, county of Hampden, and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Foldin Tables, of which the following is a speci cation.

This invention relates to improvements in portable tables which are foldable into compact form for convenient handling, packing and transportation.

While this invention is capable of general application it is particularly adapted for use where tables, of considerable length relative to their height, are required. A demand for such a table arises in the commissary department of an army, where tables of suificient length to hold an entire side of beef are required. Tables for such use must needs be foldable into compact form for convenience in transportation and, on account of the length of the table, the top thereof must be divided into foldable sections.

The invention may well be applied to banquet tables, as in this connection the tables, when not in use, may be folded into small compass for storage purposes.

I am aware that foldable tables embodying sectional tops have heretofore been used, but such tables, as shown the prior art, have disadvantages, which I seek to remedy by my invention. Tables with sectional tops as heretofore used, have been hinged together, whereby one section of the top may beturned over upon the other section in inverted relation thereto. The central hinged joint between the table top sections forms a weak point in the structure, and, if heavy loads are placed upon the center of the table,a deflection will result. I seek to provideastrong connection between two table top sections, whichwill rigidly support the same preferably in the same plane to form one fiat continuous table and which will permitg convenient folding of said sections. Insteadoi turning one section upon the other whereby the one section is placed on and in.;inverted relation to the other section, an improved connection is provided whereby one section may be superposed upon the other. This method of folding the table se tions has been found in pract ce Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed .Tune 4, 1915. Serial No. 82,093.

to be much more convenient and simple than the former methods above described.

An object of this invention is to provide a table of the class described comprising two or more table sections with improved means to hold said sections rigidly in the same plane to form one long continuous table together with foldable legs to support said sections.

Another object is to provide in a foldable table having two or more table sections, connections between the sections and means carried by said connections to rigidly support said sections, when in unfolded position, to form a joint of great mechanical strength.

Another object is to provide in a foldable table having two or more table sections with foldable legs, an improved connection between the sections arranged to permit one section with its legs folded thereagainst to be superposed upon the other section, whereby a compactly folded structure isobtained.

A further object is to provide generally simplified and improved mechanical structure.

With these objectsin view a single preferred embodiment of the. invention is shown, for the purpose of illustration, in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a. front elevational view of the improved table; Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view thereof taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of a portion oftable illustrative of the method of connecting the top sections; Fig. 4: is a rear elevational view of a portion of the table showing a detail later to be described; Fig. 5 is. a front elevational view of the table when collapsed, illustrating the first step in folding the parts thereof; Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the table completely folded; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view showing a method of joining end for end two of the tables shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the device shown in Fig. 7.

Referring to these drawings in detail: the table top comprises two flat sections 1 to each end of which is connected near one end, by means of hinges 3, a table supporting leg 2. The two top sections 1, when positioned as shown in Fig. 1, abut centrally of the table and partially overlap with a half joint, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. On eitherv side of the table are links 4, pivotally connected to the sections 1 at 5.

These links 4 serve to connect the two sections 1 and have centrally formed thereon depending portions through which-a rod 6 (see Fig.2)is arranged to pass. One of these links 4 is provided with a keyhole opening 7 (see Fig. 4) to receive a projection 8 on the end of the rod 6. The opening 7 has its keyhole portion disposed horizontally so that, after the projection 8 is passed therethrough and turned to the position shown in 'Fig. 2, the projection is held in position by gravity and is prevented from passing through the opening 7 until intentionally turned.- It will be observed from Fig. 3 that the rod 6 underlies the overlapping portions of the section 1 and engages with one of the latter so that the two sections are rigidly held in position in the same plane.

The supporting legs 2 each comprise two.

vertical legs with cross bars 9 secured thereto to form a well braced frame in which is an open portion 10 (see Fig. 2). Each of these leg frames 2 is permanently connected to a table section 1 by hinges 3 and a jointed foldable brace, which, when folded, may be disposed within the opening 10 as will later appear. This foldable brace comprises members 11 and 12, which abut centrally and are hinged together at 13. The members 11 and 12 are connected at their other extremities by hinges 14 and 15 to the table section 1 and the lower cross bar 9 respectively. Struts 16 hinged to the table sections 1 at 17 are arranged to engage the member 11 to prevent the collapse of the latter and the member 12, when the table is in use. The end of the member 16 is preferably pointed and arranged-to engage in a notch in the member 11.

It is to be noted that the table, when arranged as shown in Fig. 1, is exceptionally rigid and well braced. The legs 2 are of frame construction and are well braced against movement in either direction relative to the table sections 1 by the jointed braced construction described. The sections 1 themselves are rigidly held together against downward displacement by the three point support provided by the links 4 and rod 6. Any weight placed upon the central portion of the table is taken by the rod 6 and transferred through the links 4 to the pivotal points 5 which, as will be seen, are spaced at a substantial distance from the center of the table.

It is frequently desirable to use a table of greater length than could conveniently be obtained with a single unit as described. For example, at banquets it may be necessary to use a large number of tables placed end to end to form one long continuous table. To permit the joining of several tables one to the other the device shown in v Figs. 7 and 8 may lie-employed. One end of one section 1 is provided with a lug 18 suitably secured thereto, which has a depending pin 20 as shown in Fig. 8. The other end of the other section 1 has a recess formed therein to receive In 18 and a hole 19 to receive the pin 20. his connecting device obviously permits as many units as desired to be joined end to end to form a continuous table.

When the tables are notin use or when they are to be transported, they may be folded into flat compact form to occupy a minimum of space. To fold the table the legs 2 are first collapsed by folding the struts 16 upwardly fiat against the sections 1 and by thereafter folding the legs 2 and the jointed braces 11l2 until they also lie flat against the sections 1. 5 shows the table in substantially collapsed position and at the right hand end of the figure a portion of the leg 2 is broken' away to clearly reveal the jointed brace 1112. It will be noted that the members 11, 12 and 16 so fold together that they lie entirely within the open portion 10 with no portions protruding beneath the leg frame 2. The bar 6 is next withdrawn leaving the parts in relative positions shown in Fig 5. The table is now in fiat form with two table sections 1 with their respective leg frames 2 folded into substantially parallel relation therewith. The left hand section 1 and leg frame 2 may then be superposed upon the right hand section 1 and leg frame 2 to produce the compactly folded structure shown in Fig. 6. The lefthand members 1 and 2 are maintained in substantially horizontal position and are carried in a semi-circular path of which the link 4 is the radius and the right hand pivotal point 5 the center, until the left hand members 1 and 2 overlie the right hand members. The completely folded structure is thus foldable into such flat compact form that it is convenient to handle and pack for transportation purposes.

It is recognized that various modifications may be made in the specific structure hereinbefore described without departing from the scope of my invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A foldable table comprising, top members, legs hinged to each of said members in normal relation thereto and arranged to be folded flat against said members, means connecting the latter arranged to permit one member with its leg frame folded thereagainst to be superposed upon the other member, whereby the table maybe folded into small compass, and a device associated with said means, when said members are in table forming position to rigidly support said members.

:2. A foldabletable comprising top sections, legs hinged to each of sald sections.

near one end thereof in normal relation and arranged to be foldable fiat against said sections, foldable braces connecting said legs and sections, means to hold said braces in bracing position, connecting means between said sections and a device associated with said means to hold and support said sections in table forming position, said means arranged to permit one section with its leg folded thereagainst to be superposed upon the other section, whereby the table may be folded into small compass.

3. A foldable table comprising table top sections, legs hinged to each near one end thereof and in normal relation thereto, said legs arranged to be foldable flat against said sections when desired, foldable braces to hold said legs in normal relation to said sections, links connecting the latter and a rod extending between said links and below said sections arranged to hold and support the latter in table forming position, said links arranged to permit one section with its leg folded thereagainst to be superposed upon the other section, whereby said table is foldable. into compact form.

4. A foldable table comprising two top sections arranged to partially overlap, legs hinged to each section near one end thereof and in normal relation thereto, said legs arranged to be folded flat against said sections, when desired, a jointed brace arranged to hold said legs in normal relation to said sections, links connecting the latter and a rod extending between said links and beneath said overlapping portion of said sections arranged to hold and support the sections in table forming position, said links arranged when said rod is withdrawn, to permit one section with its leg folded flat thereunder to be superposed upon the other section, whereby the table may be folded into convenient form for transportation.

5. A folding table comprising top table sections, two ends of which are constructed to lie in overlapping relation, a series of supporting bars to connect the same in rigid or folded positions, two of said bars having their ends pivoted one to each table section to bridge the ends of the latter and a cross bar to connect said pivoted bars and underlie the overlapping ends of the table sections whereby the latter may be rigidly supported.

6. A folding table comprising, two simr lar top table sections constructed so that their ends may abut with an overlapping joint, two links each pivoted to both sect ons at equal distances from said joint, said llnks being approximately equal in length to one half the length of a table section, a cross bar having with the links cooperating portions whereby it may be supported by the links and in turn support the table sections under the overlapping joint, all constructed and arranged so that the table sections may be superimposed by means of said links one on top of the other or extended and rigidly supported by said cross bar.

. BERNARD E. OOMEY. 

